Gijón’s St John of the Cross
December 7th 2024
“St John of the Cross”, Francisco Antonio Gijón, c.1675, National Gallery of Art Washington. I saw this polychrome wooden sculpture of St John of the Cross in the exhibition “The Sacred made Real” a number of years ago in London.
Graham Sutherland’s Christ in Glory
November 30th 2024
“Christ in Glory in the Tetramorph”, Graham Sutherland, 1962, Coventry Cathedral. In November 1940 Coventry Cathedral was destroyed by bombs. The gothic ruins were conserved and the plans for a new cathedral specified this image of Christ in glory showing
Dalí’s Christ of St John of the Cross
November 23rd 2024
“Christ of St John of the Cross”, Salvador Dalí, 1951, Kelvin Grove Art Gallery and Museum. Like the One depicted, this painting has had a very varied reception. When it was shown in London and then purchased by Glasgow Corporation
Brian Whelan’s Saint Cecilia
November 16th 2024
“St Cecilia Patron Saint of Music”, Brian Whelan, now in the Music Room, St Paul’s on the Green, Norwalk, Connecticut, US. St Cecilia hasn’t usually been shown at a session in a bar, but this is how contemporary artist Brian
STANLEY SPENCER’S RESURRECTION OF SOLDIERS
November 9th 2024
“The Resurrection of Soldiers” Sir Stanley Spencer, 1928-29, Sandham Memorial Chapel, Burghclere, near Newberry. This huge canvas covers the entire east wall of the chapel. At the bottom you can see the the altar and the sacristy doors. The chapel
Chagall’s Solitude
November 2nd 2024
“Solitude” Marc Chagall 1933, Tel Aviv Museum of Art Throughout his long career the Jewish artist Marc Chagall (1887-1985) returns again and again to the motif of a Jewish man holding the scroll of the Torah. Usually the Torah is
EL GRECO’S BURIAL OF THE COUNT OF ORGAZ
October 26th 2024
The Burial of the Count of Orgaz, El Greco, 1586-88, Parish Church of San Tomé, Toledo. A christian knight is lowered into his tomb by two clerics arrayed in gold, while the nobility of Toledo attend. Above them is
ZURBARÁN’S CRUCIFIED CHRIST WITH A PAINTER
October 12th 2024
“The Crucified Christ with a Painter”, Francisco de Zurbarán, c.1650, Prado, Madrid. A painter looks at Christ as he hangs on the cross. But there is nothing in the painting to suggest a particular time or place. At the bottom
ZURBARÁN’S ST SERAPION
October 5th 2024
“St Serapion”, Francisco de Zurbarán, 1628, Wadsworth Atheneum, Hartfort. A strong light reveals a man suspended in darkness. The man is dead. He hangs by his wrists which have been tied to wooden poles. The white habit of a friar
STANLEY SPENCER’S ST FRANCIS AND THE BIRDS
September 21st 2024
“St Francis and the Birds”, Stanley Spencer 1935, Tate, London. Yes, there are birds of the air, flowers of the field and a man in a robe, but this is image is a far cry from most paintings of
